*The happiest people on this planet are not those who live on their own terms but are those who change their terms for the ones whom they love..*Don't miss to read this. it's about a great sacrifice.

Subject: CURD RICE A Touching Story

> My wife called, 'How long will you be with that newspaper? Will you > come here and make your darling daughter eat her food?'> > I tossed the paper away and rushed to the scene. My only daughter Sindu > looked frightened.> > Tears were welling up in her eyes. In front of her was a bowl filled to > its brim with Curd Rice. Sindu is a nice child, quite intelligent for > her age. She has just turned eight. She particularly detested Curd > Rice. My mother and my wife are orthodox, and believe firmly in the > 'cooling effects' of Curd Rice! I cleared my throat, and picked up the > bowl.> > 'Sindu, darling,why don't you take a few mouthful of this Curd Rice? > Just for Dad's sake, dear.> > Sindu softened a bit, and wiped her tears with the back of her hands.> > 'OK, Dad. I will eat - not just a few mouthfuls, but the whole lot of > this.> > But, you should...' Sindu hesitated. 'Dad, if I eat this entire curd > Rice, will you give me whatever I ask for?'....> > Oh sure, darling'.... 'Promise?'......... 'Promise'.> > I covered the pink soft hand extended by my daughter with mine, and > clinched the deal.> > 'Ask Mom also to give a similar promise', my daughter insisted.> > My wife put her hand on Sindu's, muttering 'Promise'. Now I became a > bit anxious.> > 'Sindu dear, you shouldn't insist on getting a computer or any such 

> expensive items. Dad does not have that kind of money right now. OK?'> > 'No, Dad. I do not want anything expensive'.> > Slowly and painfully, she finished eating the whole quantity.> > I was silently angry with my wife and my mother for forcing my child > eat something that she detested. After the ordeal was through, Sindu > came to me with her eyes wide with expectation. All our attention was > on her.> > 'Dad, I want to have my head shaved off, this Sunday!' was her demand.> > 'Atrocious!' shouted my wife, 'A girl child having her head shaved off? > Impossible!' 'Never in our family!' my mother rasped.> > 'She has been watching too much of television. Our culture is getting > totally spoiled with these TV programs!'> > Sindu darling, why don't you ask for something else? We will be sad > seeing you with a clean-shaven head.'> > 'No, Dad. I do not want anything else', Sindu said with finality.> > 'Please, Sindu, why don't you try to understand our feelings?'> > I tried to plead with her.> > 'Dad, you saw how difficult it was for me to eat that Curd Rice'.> > Sindu was in tears. 'And you promised to grant me whatever I ask for.> > Now, you are going back on your words. Was it not you who told me the > story of King Harishchandra, and its moral that we should honor our > promises no matter what?'> > It was time for me to call the shots.> 'Our promise must be kept.'> 'Are you out your mind?' chorused my mother and wife.> > 'No. If we go back on our promises, she will never learn to honor her > own.> > Sindu, your wish will be fulfilled.'> 

> With her head clean-shaven, Sindu had a round-face, and her eyes looked > big and beautiful.> > On Monday morning, I dropped her at her school. It was a sight to watch > my hairless Sindu walking towards her classroom. She turned around and > waved. I waved back with a smile. Just then, a boy alighted from a car, > and shouted, 'Sinduja, please wait for me!'> > What struck me was the hairless head of that boy.> 'May be, that is the in-stuff', I thought. 'Sir, your daughter Sinduja > is great indeed!' Without introducing herself, a lady got out of the > car, and continued,' That boy who is walking along with your daughter > is my son Harish. He is suffering from... ... leukemia.' She paused to > muffle her sobs.> > Harish could not attend the school for the whole of the last month. He > lost all his hair due to the side effects of the chemotherapy. He > refused to come back to school fearing the unintentional but cruel > teasing of the schoolmates.> > 'Sinduja visited him last week, and promised him that she will take > care of the teasing issue.> > But, I never imagined she would sacrifice her lovely hair for the sake > of my son! Sir, you and your wife are blessed to have such a noble soul > as your daughter.'> > I stood transfixed. And then, I wept. 'My little Angel, you are > teaching me how self-less real love is!'> > *The happiest people on this planet are not those who live on their own > terms but are those who change their terms for the ones whom they > love..*> Love Touch And Inspire your FRIENDS "The life is short, the vanities of > world are transient but they alone live who live for others; the rest > are more dead than alive.